Childhood Obesity Essay

Childhood obesity, also known as Pediatric obesity, is a condition in which a child is well over the average weight and height for their specific age group. Over the years, childhood obesity has gradually increased by 30%. Many overweight or obese children visit a physician to determine a child’s Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the estimated amount of body fat on a child’s body. A child’s BMI, which is determined by their weight and height, is placed into one of four categories, underweight (less than 18.5), normal weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9) and obese (30 or greater). When a child is diagnosed with obesity, it later follows them into adulthood, which can cause various cancers and other health problems. Childhood obesity is mainly
The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that about 20% of all cancers diagnosed in the US are related to body fatness, physical inactivity, excess alcohol consumption, and/or poor nutrition, and thus could also be prevented (American Cancer Society.) When is child is diagnosed with obesity, and continues to be obese throughout adulthood, the risk of developing cancer increases greatly. Many cancers can develop from childhood obesity that continues throughout adulthood, such as Breast, Colorectal, Uterine, Kidney, Pancreatic, and Thyroid cancer. Increased levels of insulin and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), can help some cancers develop (Obesity, Weight, and Cancer Risk 1). In women, the most deadly cancers that develop in adulthood from childhood obesity are Breast and Colorectal cancer. In total, 39,620 women have died from Breast cancer and 24,530 people have died from Colorectal cancer. The deadliest cancers for men diagnosed with obesity as a child and continued with obesity throughout adulthood are Colorectal and Pancreatic. A total of 45,780 people have died both the cancers, 26,300 people died from Colorectal and 19,480 people have died from Pancreatic